AFP urges public to practice concept of shared security

Posted: 2017-Jun-19 14.00.01 UTC+0800

MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) called on the public to practice the concept of shared security as there is a distinct possibility that some Maute Group members have broken through the military cordon in Marawi City by mixing up with evacuee and refugee convoys.

Through this method, these lawless elements could then strike civilian and military targets in other areas.

"We do not deny that there could have been possible, possibly a few of these fighters who came from Marawi, who may have mixed with the evacuees and refugees who are leaving Marawi we have caught a number of them but there may have been a few of them to Iligan or Cagayan De Oro," AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said late Friday.

As of 6 p.m. June 15, the number of Maute Group members neutralized are placed at 225 with government losses at 59 and civilians executed by the terrorists at 26.

Civilians pulled out or rescued from the danger zone at placed at 1,629 and firearms recovered from the bandits at 208.

"We have continually called on people to always practice the concept of shared security which meant to say that every Filipino, every citizen in all these areas and for that matter throughout the Philippines should be alert, vigilant and always on the lookout for suspicious persons in their communities as well as packages or stuff that are left here and there that are unattended," he added.

And if every Filipino would comply with this request of the AFP, Padilla said the country's security posture will be greatly heightened.

"(This is) one of the most effective and most efficient means of increasing our security posture because you know soldiers and policemen their numbers are limited and we cannot guard every nook and cranny of every city and every place so if every Filipino over a hundred million of them, partners with the security sector and our government, in guarding their own areas then the security posture becomes all the more heightened," he added. (PNA)